The People Power Party will pursue a '4.5-day workweek' system that uses flexible working arrangements to work only 4 hours on Fridays as a presidential campaign promise.
Kwon Young-se, chairman of the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party, noted at a committee meeting on the 14th, "I will introduce the 4.5-day workweek system utilizing flexible working arrangements among the policies proposed to the People Power Party," and said, "We will actively promote this policy."
Kwon added an example, saying, "Ulsan Jung-gu Office is conducting a pilot program of the 4.5-day workweek utilizing flexible working arrangements while maintaining a 40-hour workweek, allowing for a Friday afternoon off." He elaborated, "From Monday to Thursday, employees work an additional hour each day, in addition to the basic 8 hours, and work only 4 hours on Fridays before leaving work."
He further added, "To prevent gaps in service and provide citizens with the same service hours as before, all employees work on a rotating basis within a 25% staffing level."
Kwon stated, "Since the total working hours do not decrease, there will be no change in salary, which can be seen as a realistic alternative to improve work-life balance through flexible time allocation while maintaining the existing 5-day workweek system."
He continued, "On the other hand, the 4-day and 4.5-day workweek proposed by the Democratic Party are unrealistic and populist policies that seek to reduce hours while maintaining salary, which could cause significant confusion in the labor market."
Kwon remarked, "The People Power Party plans to reflect in the presidential campaign promise various ways to enjoy the benefits of the 4.5-day workweek while maintaining the legal working hours of 40, but productivity and efficiency must be ensured even if flexible working arrangements are introduced."
He also mentioned, "Along with reviewing the 4.5-day workweek, we will push for the abolition of the 52-hour workweek system, taking into account the characteristics of industries and job duties."